One of the leading violinists in Japan today, Kazuki Sawa has had a distinguished career. Following graduation from the Tokyo Geidai (Tokyo University of the Arts) with a Master of Arts degree and the Premier Prix “The Ataka Award”, he travelled to London to study with Gyorgy Pauk and Bela Katona. Kazuki Sawa has won a number of prizes at international competitions including the Munich (Violin-Piano Duo together with his pianist wife, Emiko Tadenuma), Long-Thibaud (Paris) and Wieniawski (Poland).
He was also awarded the Ysaye Medal from the Ysaye Foundation of Belgium and a Gold Medal at the 1979 Bordeaux Festival.
In 1984, he returned to Japan, where he began a busy professional career both as a faculty of the Tokyo Geidai (Tokyo University of the Arts) and also as a soloist/chamber music player.
Kazuki Sawa returned to London in 1989 on a research fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music, where he worked with members of the late Amadeus Quartet, who inspired him to form the SAWA QUARTET, which is now regarded as the leading string quartet in Japan. In 2000/2001 season, they achieved the complete Beethoven string quartet cycle to celebrate their 10 years’ anniversary from its foundation. He has been invited to various music festivals such as the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival in USA, the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Ireland, Ryedale Music Festival and the Lake District Summer Music in UK. He is also invited to be a member of jury of various international competitions such as the Tibor Varga (Sion), the Long-Thibaud, the London String Quartet and the RNCM Manchester.
Kazuki Sawa is currently the President of the Tokyo University of the Arts known as Tokyo Geidai), an Honorary Professor of the Royal Academy of Music, London.
He directs the Tokyo Strings. In 2003, he was appointed the Music Advisor of the Hibiki Strings of JAPAN. Kazuki Sawa plays on a 1732 Joseph Guarnerius del Gesu violin known as the “Arkwright”.
Since 1996, he extends his career as a conductor. In 2004 and 05, he made highly successful concert tours in UK with the Hibiki Strings of Japan and the Tokyo Strings.
As a violist, he played with internationally acclaimed artists such as members of late Amadeus Quartet, Henschel Quartet, Kuss Quartet and Gustav Mahler Quartet.